■"^  t'^'Z-'K 


lUM.^K  01-'   Ui:t'KE8ENTATIVK>;.  Jan.  2ii,   18tJ4.^R£ac!  fir«t. 
\r\(\  s«»rond  times,  placed  on  the  Calondar,  Mnd  ordered  to  be  printed, 

[Bv  Mr.  GooDF..] 


To  be  entitled  Ati  Act    to  anthorize   i;hp  impreff«ment  of  meat  for  the 

use  of  the  array,  under  certain  circamstances. 

.1  Section    I.    The.  Cmisire'f.'^  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  do 

1  enact.  That  whenever  the  President  shall  declare  that  the  public 

3  exigencies  render  it  nenesssry.  impressments  of  meat,  for  the  use 

4  <~'f  the  army,  may  be  made  from  an  v  ^upplio;*  that  may  exist  in  the 
,s  country,  under  the  express  condition  that  just  coropensation  shall 

6  be  afforded  to  the  owner  of  the  meat  taken  or  impressed,  and  sub- 

7  ject  to  the  following  restrictions  and  limitations  : 

1  Srh.  '2.  Tho  powor  to  direct  ^«nch  impressment  shall  be  con- 

>  fprred  r.pon   the  Secretary  of  ^Var ;   but  he  shall  not  reduce  the 

3  supplies  of  any  person  below  one-half  of  the  quantity  usually  al- 

4-  lowed  for' the  support  of  himself,  his  family,  and  dependants  for 

5  the  year.     He  shall  exercise  the  paid  power  by  orders  directed  to 
G  the  officers  or  agents  he  may  employ,  who  shall  have  explicit  iu- 

7  structions  as  to  the  mode  of  its  execution,  and  injunctions  that 

8  the  same  shall  not  be  abused. 


1  Sec.  S.  That  these  orders  shall  direct  that  a  notice  shall  he 

2  given  to  the  owner  of  the  meat  needed,  his  bailee  or  other  a^ent, 

3  declaring  the  quantity  required,  tho  price  offered,  the  existence 

4  of  a  necessity,  and  whether  possession  is  to  be  taken  of  the  same 

5  immediately,  and  with  whom  the  risk  of  the  safe-keeping  is  to  be, 
li  ponding  the  negotiation,  nnd  in  what  manner  the  compensation 
7  shall  be  settled,  in  case  tlie  olter  is  not  accepted — service  of  wliich 
«S  notice  shall  be  a  condition  precedent  to  any  impressment,  or 
9  seizure  by  the  impressing  officer.                         s 

1  Sf,c.  4.  That  upon  the  service  of  this  notice  upon  the  owner 

2  of  any  meat  liable  to  impressment,  the  o\Tner  shall  hold  the  same, 
i  subject  to  the  claim  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  shall  be  en- 

4  titled  to  just  compensation,  according  to  the  provisions  of  this 

5  act ;  and  if  the  necessity  is  declared  by  the  impressing  officer  to 

6  be    urgent,  he    shall    deliver   the    possession  to  the  impressing 

7  officer  upon  his  demand,  who  shall  give  a  receipt  therefor.  r\s 

8  provided  in  the  sixth  section  of  this  act. 

1  Sec.  5.  That  for  the  ascertainment  of  the  quantity  of  meat  liable 

2  to  impressment  under  this  act,  and  also  of  just  compensation  for 

3  the   same,  where  the  owner   and  the  impressing  officer   cannot 

4  agree,  the  impressing  officer  shall  appoint  one  loyal  and  disinter- 

5  ested  citizen  of  the  county,  district  or  parish,  in  which  the  meat 

6  impressed  shall  be  at  the  time  of  impressment,  and  the  owner  of 
?  the  meat  so  impressed,  his  agent,  or  other  bailee  shall  appoint 


8  anntber,  who  ahall.  upon  oath,  ascertain  the  quantity  liable  to 

P  irnpreBf»menr..  and  th*-'  vaino  of  th^  =amp  at  thp  «iate  of  the  notice 

]H  served  upon  the  party,  which  natli  may  ))e  admin isterffl   by  the 

11  impressing  officer,  and  which  a-=icertainment  of  the  '^uantity  and 

12  value  shall  be  conclusive  evidence  thereof ;  and  if  the  assessors 

13  cannot  acrroc.  thfty  may  a<*sociate  with   them   a  third  poraon,  of 

14  like  qnalificationfi,  to  mako  5»aid  asscpsment. 

1  Sfc.  G,  That  whenever  an  impressment  shall  be  made,  under 

2  this  act,  it  shall  l»p  the  duty  of  the  impressing'  officer  to  give  an 

3  official  certificate,  showing  the  quantity  taken,  the  company,  bat- 
A  talion.  regiment  or  other  command,  for  whose  use  it  is  required, 
5  the  compensation  to  be  paid,  the  circumstances  of  necessity  that 
G  existed,  which  certificnte  shall  be  evidence  of  a  claim  against  the 
7  <Jonfederato  Staten,  and  shall  be  promptly  paid  by  the  disbursing 
S  officer  of  the  command  for  which  the  meat  was  taken,  or  by  the 
9  chief  of  tlie  bureau  having  charge  of  disbursements  for  similar 

]!>  obiects. 


4^  HI 


